The Clinton Historical Society will be adding videos of selected program meetings, exhibits, and special events to the website as they become available. Click on each box below to reveal and watch the video.
Presented by Laura Chenven, Mid-Hudson Antislavery History Project
This talk examines three iterations of the effort by enslaved people to gain their freedom in 1700s Dutchess County. These “aspects of emancipation” shed light on the risks and opportunities facing enslaved people during this period—and foreshadowed what would become New York’s gradual abolition laws—as scores of enslaved men, women, and children took the momentous step to free themselves throughout the 18th century.
Presented by Maeve E. Kane, Associate Professor of History, University of Albany
On the eve of the American Revolution, fur exports made New York’s economy vitally important to Britain’s growing economic engine. This trade was built on centuries of diplomatic alliance with the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and set the stage for how Continental Patriots, New York Loyalists, Indigenous people, and enslaved Black people in New York understood the Revolution and themselves in the new nation.
Presented by Owen Clarke
The Hudson River School of Art grew up during the Industrial Revolution when Thomas Cole (1801–1848) sailed up the Hudson River on his way to Catskill, New York. The art culture that developed was illustrated in the landscapes denoting the beauty of the wilderness and was declared “The Birth of American Art.”
Presented by Shannon Butler, historian.
Over the past three centuries the area we know as Poughkeepsie has morphed from a tiny settlement, to a bustling village, into an industrial center, and even a so-called “Model City.” No one can doubt that Poughkeepsie has seen a lot of change since the first houses were built at the turn of the 18th century. We have seen buildings and landscapes come and go, and we will see more as The Queen City on the Hudson continues to remain a City in flux. Join Historian Shannon Butler as we venture back in time and discuss some of the major changes that have taken place here.
Presented by Dr. Cynthia Koch, president, Clinton Historical Society
In the 18th century, slavery was prevalent in the North as well as in South. According to the 1790 U.S. Census, 176 enslaved people lived in the Town of Clinton (which included Hyde Park); Fishkill, Rhinebeck, and Poughkeepsie had even more. Quakers were among the earliest in America to confront the issue of slavery as a matter of conscience, and the first official actions to free enslaved people in New York took place in Dutchess County.
On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, the Clinton Town Board held a workshop on the restoration of the 1777 Creek Meeting House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and is owned by the Town of Clinton Historical Society. Plans for upgrading HVAC, lighting, and life safety systems and plans to restore the original interior, as well as why it is important that the Society be able to purchase six feet of property from a walkway adjacent to the Creek Meeting House on land now owned by the Friends Cemetery Association
Presented by Zachary Veith, Historic Site Assistant, Staatsburgh State Historic Site
In 1810 nine Black people were enslaved on the Staatsburgh estate; in 1910 the staff was exclusively White and European—with only one documented Black resident in the entire village. What happened? Zachary Veith discusses the transition from a Black presence in Staatsburgh during the early 19th century to an apparent absence during the Gilded Age, focusing on the Black people living and working in both the estate and the hamlet of Staatsburg.
Presented by Bonnie Wood, Local History Researcher and Writer
The parents of the DeGarmo family (Hicksite Quakers) welcomed Lucretia Mott and other abolitionist leaders to their loving home and provided refuge for escaping slaves. The DeGarmo children witnessed these anti-slavery actions, gave speeches at anti-slavery conventions, and wrote letters for publication in William Lloyd Garrison’s anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator. The family’s commitment to social issues earned the DeGarmos a place in Dutchess County and American history.
Richard Lahey, a founding member of the Mid-Hudson Driving Association, presents a program on 19th century horsedrawn carriages and sleighs. The vehicles were collected over the course of fifty years and many are still in his collection. Some are of special interest because of their connection to local Dutchess County residents and others for their use in various movies.
Presented by Stacy Whittaker. This talk will examine embroidered samplers from Dutchess County and how much they can tell us about local history, women’s education, religion, material culture and more. Special attention will be given to work made by girls from Clinton and nearby towns. Ms. Whittaker will also discuss the Dutchess County Sampler Initiative and why our area is so important in the history of American Schoolgirl Needlework.
Why do we not know more of Susie M. Barstow (1836–1923), a prolific artist and notable figure in the field of American landscape painting? Nancy Siegel, Professor of Art History at Towson University, draws on previously unknown archival materials (letters, dairies, photographs, paintings, drawings, and sketchbooks) to discuss the life and career of this fascinating artist within the context of the Hudson River School.
Presented by Steve Lynch, former President of the Fishkill Historical Society. Ammi Phillips (1788–1865) was an itinerant painter who painted portraits for more than fifty years, producing over one thousand portraits in so many disparate styles that his works were once thought to have been painted by several different artists, since he seldom signed his paintings. Mr. Lynch will focus on five Ammi Phillips paintings that are on display in the Van Wyck Homestead Museum in Fishkill.
Presented by the Honorable Albert M. Rosenblatt. Judge Rosenblatt teaches at the New York University School of Law and is a retired Judge of New York State Court of Appeals. The Eight tells the story of Lemmon v. New York—or, as it’s more popularly known, the Lemmon Slave Case. All but forgotten today, it was one of the most momentous civil rights cases in American history. There had been cases in which the enslaved had won their freedom after having resided in free states, but the Lemmon case was unique, posing the question of whether an enslaved person can win freedom by merely setting foot on New York soil—when brought there in the keep of an “owner.”
Presented by Harvey K. Flad, Professor Emeritus of Geography, Vassar College. In the nineteenth century, Hudson River School artists such as Thomas Cole and Frederic Church and landscape designers such as Andrew Jackson Downing, Calvert Vaux, and Frederick Law Olmsted planted the seeds of a national identity through their works in the Hudson River Valley. Professor Flad introduces this historic cultural landscape and presents some personal perspectives on local and regional efforts to preserve this heritage.
Presented by Joseph Vance. Joe Vance is an award-winning architect in New York City who has recently moved to the Town of Clinton. His firm specializes in residential design projects using 3D software that allows clients to visualize their project in “virtual reality” from inception through completion. Mr. Vance will speak on architectural issues common in rural properties, including renovation of a 1790s home and barns in the Town of Clinton.
Presented by William P. Tatum III, Dutchess County Historian. Dr. Tatum provides an inside perspective on the challenges and rewards of using land records as historical resources through the example of the Gazely Farm, located on West Meadowbrook Lane. The deed records associated with this property link it back to the Great Nine Partners Patent, providing a historical chain that connects the earliest eras of European settlement in Dutchess County to the present day.
Presented by Shannon Butler, Historian, Poughkeepsie Public Library District. Using court records, early newspaper articles, and pamphlets, Shannon Butler discusses Dutchess County’s most gruesome murders from the 18th through the early 20th centuries—including one of the first female serial killers and the gruesome murder of a Poughkeepsie businessman. Ms. Butler, the author of two books and numerous articles, has worked in local history for sixteen years and is the creator and cohost of a historical podcast entitled “All My Favorite People Are Dead.”
Presented by Patrick O’Hara. A descendant of the Rymph family, Patrick O’Hara spent the summer of 2022 visiting local cemeteries while researching his family tree. Mr. O’Hara cleaned over eighty cemetery markers, writing narratives about the deceased and posting them to social media — and in the process stimulating interest and discussion on the upkeep of local cemeteries. He will discuss how to safely clean a gravestone, the best cleaning solutions to use, and basic tools and techniques.
Presented by James Brands, Town Justice, Town of Clinton. Jim Brands is a direct descendant of Johannas George Rymph, the earliest known member of the Rymph family to migrate from Germany in the early 1760s. The family settled in Hyde Park and became emblematic of many of the founding families of the community. Judge Brands and his wife reside on the family farm on Rymph Road and a number of his ancestors have been buried in the Pleasant Plains Cemetery on Fiddlers Bridge Road.
Presented by Dr. Charles Canham, Senior Scientist Emeritus, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Forests of the Hudson Valley have seen constant change throughout the more than 12,000 years since the retreat of the Pleistocene glaciers. Although humans have been responsible for the most important transformations, the most dramatic changes followed European settlement. The future of those forests will be shaped by a new set of forces, including climate change and the impact of forest pests and pathogens.
Presented by Dr. Vincent Cookingham. On Wednesday, November 26, 1930, the Germond family farm in Stanfordville, NY was the scene of a grisly murder of a small family: father, mother, son and, daughter. Killed on Thanksgiving Eve, the bodies would not be discovered for almost two days. Ever since neighbors issued the first alarm on November 28, 1930, the question of who murdered James Husted, Mabel, Raymond, and Bernice Germond has remained unanswered. Eighty-seven years later, Dr. Vincent Cookingham, a descendent of the Dutchess County Sheriff who initially investigated the crime came forward to re-examine the surviving evidence from this cold case, using the latest forensic methods.
Clinton town historian, Craig Marshall, talks about the history of the Clinton Community Library.
Clinton town historian, Craig Marshall, tells and shows how the Masonic Hall building was moved from its original location in Schultzville to its current location at the Clinton Town Hall complex.
Presented by A. J. Schenkman, Gardiner town historian. A. J. Schenkman has recently been named Best Author of 2022 by Hudson Valley Magazine for his book Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York. Mr. Schenkman is a prolific author on historical topics in the Hudson Valley. He is a teacher, popular historian, and frequent lecturer.
Presented by Chip Holman. Olin Dows (1904 – 1981) was raised at Glenburn in Rhinebeck and studied painting at Harvard and the Art Students League. A lifetime painter of Dutchess County scenery, he was a leader of Roosevelt’s Depression era art programs in public buildings and post offices. Chip will speak on Dows’ local work on the early 1930s and the period up to World War II. We are partnering with the Southlands Foundation which was founded by Olin Dows sister, Deborah Dows.
Presented by Crystal Middleton and Bob Schoch. A joint presentation by Crystal Middleton, program coordinator at the Clinton Community Library, and Bob Schoch, owner of Primrose Hill Farm, on local history in Clinton. Crystal will show a children’s educational program that she developed and Bob will talk about plans to permanently preserve the farm, its collection of farm equipment, and historical records of the Cookingham family.
Presented by Fred Schaefer. When he served as chairman of the Walkway Over the Hudson, Fred Schaeffer led the organization’s efforts to convert the abandoned railroad bridge into the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. Fred’s presentation includes a history of the Poughkeepsie–Highland Railroad Bridge and it’s conversion to the Walkway.
Presented by historian, speaker and writer Shannon Butler. Explore the Delano family and their rise to fame and fortune as the result of their involvement in the opium trade in China. Butler will offer her insights about the illegal business venture, including the Delano’s experiences during the Opium Wars and what they did with their wealth when they returned to the U.S. Eventually the fortune trickled down to Sara Delano Roosevelt and her son, 32nd President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Film and discussion led by Gregory Edmonds. In honor of Black History Month — Red-Tailed Angels: The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen, produced by the Pare Lorentz Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, will precede a discussion led by Gregory Edmonds, President of the Ohio Memorial Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. The film was produced in 2006 and contains interviews with Tuskegee Airmen who are no longer with us.
Presented by Dr. Gray Brechin. Dr. Brechin is an historical geographer, the author of Imperial San Francisco, a frequent radio and television guest, and a popular public speaker. He is currently a visiting scholar in the U.C. Berkeley Department of Geography and founder and project scholar of the Living New Deal.
Dutchess County was transformed by President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal work relief agencies designed to lift the U.S. out of the Great Depression. From fine schools to roads and sewers, parks, post offices, and works of art still used and enjoyed eighty years on, it’s all around you but largely unseen. Dr. Gray Brechin will talk about the Living New Deal’s ongoing work to reveal a lost civilization whose creator lived at Hyde Park
Presented by Dick Coller, a longtime member of the Town of Clinton Historical Society and trustee emeritus. Dick will present an overview of how mankind has compensated for the uneven distribution of natural resources. For example, coal, petroleum, iron ore and building materials are mainly concentrated in relatively remote locations and must be brought to central utilization locations. This has always been a huge expenditure of labor and material, whether by water or animal-driven transport or railroads.
Presented by Bill Jeffway, Executive Director of Dutchess County Historical Society (DCHS), and Melodye Moore, Chair of DCHS Collections. Only Native People themselves can share the perspective, values, and history of their community. But there is a role for the non-native community as well in helping to protect and preserve archaeological sites and ensuring that our history is inclusive of a variety of perspectives. In addition to preservation priorities and methods, we’ll examine iconic examples of the “one story, one truth” model and discuss the tensions that can arise when balancing a wish to unite in a common identity involves the erasure of distinct communities
Presented by Craig Cavallo and Dan Pucci, authors. New York’s Hudson Valley is home to commercial apple growing in the United States. With a moderate climate and a quickly developing urban hub in what became New York City, the region was primed for supplying local markets with fresh eating varieties. Today the Hudson Valley produces nearly half of New York State’s total apple production, and some of the best cider in the country is made right in our backyard. Listen in as Craig and Dan explain how this came to be and where orchards and cider are heading in the future.
Presented by Jeri Diehl-Cusack, formerly of the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Partnership. Meet three other women who married into the Roosevelt family: Eleanor’s grandmother, Martha Bullock “Mittie” Roosevelt, whom she never knew; Eleanor’s mother, Anna Rebecca Hall Roosevelt, whom she barely knew; and Eleanor’s mother-in-law, Sara Delano Roosevelt, whom she knew perhaps a bit too well.
Presented by Mott historian Professor Carol Faulkner. Lucretia Mott was viewed in her time as a dominant figure in the struggle for equality. She was the “moving spirit” of the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls and envisioned women’s rights as an extension of the universal principles of liberty and equality.
Presenter David Turner will speak on the many forgotten hamlets in the northern part of Dutchess County. Hear about the fascinating history of these locations. Included will be dozens of turn-of-the-century images of little-known hamlets from northern Dutchess County. In many cases he has before and after pictures of the buildings he will speak about—what their function once was and what it is today.
Presented by Jim Ormond, independent filmmaker. In 1929 Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees traveled to Sing Sing to play an exhibition game against the inmate team. Ruth blasted a fastball with such a force that it cleared the prison’s 40-foot wall. This new documentary looks at the game through the lens of social history, examining the events in major league baseball and the American prison system that led up to the Sing Sing game.
Clinton Historical Society President Cynthia Koch talks about the jobs programs of the New Deal and their lasting contributions to our national life.
Presented by Peter Bunten, chairman of the Mid-Hudson Antislavery History Project. A native of Poughkeepsie, he lectures on the local history of slavery, the antislavery movement, and the Underground Railroad. In the middle decades of the 18th Century, Quaker communities – such as the Creek Meeting – were spreading across eastern Dutchess County and to points beyond. The area would go on to boast the largest settlement of Quakers outside Philadelphia. Almost from the beginning, these Quakers – along with their neighbors – found themselves at the forefront of the slavery-antislavery debate. We’ll explore some of the cultural and political aspects of this development, which link our local history to national events.
Presented by Ryan J. Orton, Secretary of Dutchess County Pomona Grange #32. The Grange has been a political and social force for rural America since its organization in Washington, in 1867. At one time Dutchess County had 26 Grange units, with the Town of Clinton having the most with three in the hamlets of Clinton Corners, Pleasant Plains, and Schultzville. This program will outline the Grange historically and today, as well as its influence nationally and locally.
Town Historian and Clinton Historical Society Vice-President Craig Marshall will give a virtual presentation of the Town Hall, Library, Masonic Hall, Spooky Hollow schoolhouse and Wing’s Hall – the latter a major social venue in Clinton Corners for almost 50 years!
Presented by Craig Marshall, Clinton Town Historian & CHS Vice President. The Clinton Historical Center includes the Town Hall (1924), the Community Library (1975), court/offices addition (1988), plus the Spooky Hollow Schoolhouse (c1850), and the Masonic Hall (1865). Wing’s Dance Hall, located in Clinton Corners, began in 1907 and was a popular place for social gatherings for 43 years. Craig Marshall portrays John Lyons who bequeathed funds to build the Town Hall in 1924.
Presented by Craig Marshall, Clinton Town Historian & CHS Vice President. Part 1: The history of Schultzville, a historic hamlet in the Town of Clinton, is presented by Theodore “Gus” Schultz (grandson of the founder of Schultzville), as portrayed by Craig Marshall. It covers the period from its founding in 1807 through the early 20th century, displaying many vintage photographs from the CHS archive.
Part 2: Craig Marshall presents the architectural features of the Daniel H. Schultz Victorian house built in 1856 in Schultzville.
Presented by Craig Marshall, Clinton Town Historian & CHS Vice President. This program is a short history of the Hudson River Day Line Company and early steam boating on the Hudson River “presented” by Donald C. Ringwald as portrayed by Craig Marshall in uniform. Don Ringwald (deceased) was bursar of the Day Line Co. and an author of books on Hudson River steamboats and the history of the Hudson River Day Line Company.
Local musician Vito Petroccitto Jr. tells the story of the murder that gave Fiddler’s Bridge Road it’s name. Are you a disbeliever?
The Reorientation Branch Office of the Undersecretary Department of the Army presents: Hudson River Dayline.